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Call for stricter border health checks after US state reportedly drops vaccine mandates Requiring proof of vaccination for foreign visitors entering Malaysia reasonable in view

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of global disease resurgence risks.

SCAN ME No. 8928 PP 2644/12/2012 (031195)

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said repeated abuse of the Security Council veto has paralysed the UN and derailed global peace efforts. – BERNAMAPIC

Credibility of global body eroded by repeated failures to fulfil will of General Assembly due to blocking action by countries with privilege to override majority decisions: Minister End UN veto travesty! Report on h page 2

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‘Asean disappointed by ceasefire violation in Myanmar’ NEW YORK: Asean must press on with efforts to restore credibility to the Five-Point Consensus while safeguarding security and stability in Myanmar, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He said Asean is deeply disappointed that the ceasefire agreed to in Myanmar had been violated in some areas, with violence continuing to endanger civilians. “Those in power must remember that Myanmar is part of a region, not an isolated country. “There is a bright and safe future for all our peoples if we work together in good faith towards a Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led resolution to the crisis,” he said at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday. He added that Asean would continue to play a pivotal role as a regional bloc in promoting peace, strengthening security, building economic resilience and advancing sustainability goals. Mohamad said as Asean chair in 2025, Malaysia has seen first-hand the colossal efforts required to sustain peace. “When conflicts threatened to spiral between our neighbours, Asean did not stand idle. We stepped in, convened both sides in Malaysia and implemented a ceasefire – one that Asean is now ensuring takes root through active monitoring on the ground.”– Bernama Earlier, the Selangor Royal Office announced on its Facebook page that Esah, 82, had passed away at 5.15am at a hospital in Damansara due to old age. – Bernama Mother of Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor laid to rest SHAH ALAM: Esah Tahar, the mother of the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, was laid to rest at the Royal Mausoleum here at about 2.45pm yesterday. The funeral prayers were performed at Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, led by its Grand Imam Muhammad Farhan Wijaya, following Zohor prayers. Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah performed the funeral prayers and witnessed the burial, which was also attended by Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin’s family members. Present were Rural Development, Unity and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Rizam Ismail, State Islamic Affairs and Innovation Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah and Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi. Selangor Mufti Datuk Dr Anhar Opir, Selangor Islamic Religious Council chairman Datuk Salehuddin Saidin, Selangor Islamic Religious Department director Datuk Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad and Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar were also present. The royal couple poured rose water over the grave following the completion of the talqin (reminder) led by Muhammad Farhan.

SEA OF COLOUR ... Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim watching the zapin being performed by 3,000 dancers at the launch of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 in Klebang, Malacca on Saturday. – BERNAMAPIC

Abolish use of veto in UN Security Council: Minister o ‘Repeated abuse of special power has paralysed world body and derailed global peace efforts’

Sydney, from Montreal to Kuala Lumpur, people have spoken in grief and outrage. “More and more are standing up for the truth that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The eyes of the world are upon us. We must act now. Sanction Israel.” He also criticised Israel’s recent strike in Doha, describing it as not merely an attack on Hamas representatives but “an assault on another state’s soil and an insult to all mediation efforts”. Mohamad said unchecked Israeli aggression threatens to destabilise not only the Middle East but also the wider world. “The atrocities may have begun with Palestine but they will not end with Palestine. As the Middle East grows ever more dangerous, we will all feel the reverberations.” Malaysia also reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian people, pledging to back the New York Declaration and other international initiatives. However, Mohamad said statements alone were not enough. “There are only three real answers to this conflict. Firstly, take concrete action against the occupying force. Secondly, lend long-term support to the development of a self-governing Palestinian state and thirdly, reform the UN to ensure that such a travesty of justice never happens again.”

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

inclusive body in the organisation. “First, we must limit if not abolish the veto and challenge it every time it is wielded, particularly in cases of crimes against humanity. “Second, authority must flow back to the General Assembly. “Third, we must redesign global financing mechanisms to ensure transparency and fairness for the Global South.” He added that without reform, the international community would lose faith in the UN, particularly over its decades-long failure to resolve the Palestinian issue. Mohamad condemned what he described as genocide in Gaza by Israel, accusing powerful nations of shielding it from accountability while atrocities continue. “In Gaza, the clock is ticking, bombs are falling and the light is fading. We have failed at least 70,000 people.” He said Israel could no longer hide behind claims of victimhood, citing mounting global protests and condemnation. “From London to Dhaka, from Paris to

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has called on the United Nations (UN) to abolish or restrict the use of the veto in the Security Council, warning that the organisation’s credibility is on the line as conflicts rage, particularly in Palestine. Speaking at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said repeated abuse of the veto had paralysed the UN and derailed global peace efforts. “Repeated failures of the Security Council to fulfil the will of the General Assembly must be met with strong resistance. “No more shall we quietly accept the dismissal of our collective voice. We must question and challenge the veto. We must free the Security Council from this humiliating paralysis.” Mohamad said urgent reforms are critical if the UN is to stay relevant, including restoring authority to the General Assembly as the most

Empower General Assembly instead of restructuring UNSC, says analyst PETALING JAYA: Reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is almost impossible without the consent of its five permanent members who wield veto powers, making it more realistic to strengthen the authority of the UN General Assembly (Unga), said geopolitical analyst Dr Azmi Hassan. France routinely blocking resolutions that clash with their interests. “The problem with restructuring the Security Council is that it requires agreement from the very same five nations that hold veto powers. add little weight since they cannot override vetoes, creating an imbalance that undermines the credibility of the council. He said instead of pursuing an “unrealistic” reform of the UNSC, the General Assembly, which represents all 193 member states equally, should be empowered. “Unlike the UNSC, the General Assembly has no veto powers, meaning every nation has an equal voice.” Azmi added that empowering the Unga would restore credibility by ensuring that decisions reflect the collective will of nations.

“This is almost impossible. As a result, the UNSC has failed repeatedly to act effectively on urgent matters such as Palestine and Ukraine,” he told theSun . Azmi said the 10 rotating non-permanent seats

He was commenting on Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan’s address at the Unga, in which Malaysia called for the abolition or restriction of the Security Council veto. – By Harith Kamal

“If Unga resolutions are granted binding power similar to those of the Security Council, the UN could function more effectively.

He said the Gaza conflict and other crises have exposed paralysis within the UNSC, with the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and

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Concern over US state move to drop vaccine mandates

‘On-call pay for doctors must be fair’

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged lawmakers to urgently debate long-delayed reforms to doctors’ on-call allowances, warning that stagnant rates threaten patient safety and the healthcare workforce. MMA president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo said the issue should not be reduced to a “doctors versus MPs” narrative following Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul’s comments on proposals to reallocate a portion of MPs’ allowances for doctors’ overnight duty pay, known as Elaun Tugas Atas Panggilan (ETAP). “We recognise there are many hardworking MPs who consistently stand up for healthcare and the welfare of the rakyat and we value their continued support,” he said in a statement. The MMA stressed that on-call pay is not a perk but recognition for gruelling shifts that can stretch beyond 24 hours without proper rest, handling life-and-death decisions. Current rates work out to just RM9.16 per hour and have not changed in over a decade despite heavier workloads. “When doctors are fatigued and demoralised, the impact is direct – patients’ safety and quality of care suffer. “Taking care of those who care for the nation’s health must be a priority and it is Parliament’s duty to give healthcare issues the serious attention they deserve,”Thirunavukarasu said. The association called for fair pay, manageable workloads and clear career pathways to stem attrition and safeguard the system’s sustainability. “We urge MPs to debate this issue with urgency, not only for doctors’ welfare but for patients’ safety and the long-term resilience of healthcare,” he said, adding that the MMA is ready for constructive dialogue with the Speaker and MPs. Johari, had also, rejected a proposal to cut MPs’ allowances by half, saying backbenchers earn about RM25,000 a month – “not enough actually” – while ministers get RM40,000, much of which goes to constituency work and community aid. Unite to strengthen food security:Officials SHAH ALAM: Reducing Malaysia’s reliance on imported food requires a united national effort, with states working hand in hand and agencies driving innovation. Selangor Infrastructure and Agriculture Committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim said Selangor and KL with their nine million residents, could not meet food demand without cooperation from other states with diverse resources. “It is very difficult for us to meet the needs of Selangor and KL alone, but we can contribute to strengthening the national food chain through modernisation and high-value agriculture. “If every state plays its role, the country’s overall food supply will be more secure and reliance on imports reduced,” he told reporters after officiating the Selangor AgroFest (SAF) 2025 at Stadium Shah Alam on Saturday. He acknowledged challenges such as high costs and limited land in urban states, but urged others to embrace modern techniques. “High-value methods like hydroponics can produce up to three times more than conventional farming. This must be treated as a discipline, supported by technology in seeding, production, marketing and storage. “Malaysia spends RM7.5 billion annually importing vegetables and fruits we could grow ourselves.” The four-day SAF features 160 stalls and is expected to generate RM500,000 in sales, with 10 agripreneurs named as Selangor Agro Icons 2024/2025. – Bernama

PETALING JAYA: With reports that Florida is moving to eliminate all vaccine mandates – including those requiring schoolchildren to be immunised against diseases such as polio – Malaysian parents are urging the government to consider tighter health checks at the country’s borders. Several parents told theSun that they believe requiring proof of vaccination for foreign visitors would be a reasonable precaution, particularly at a time when some countries are relaxing vaccination rules despite warnings of global disease resurgence. Ainul Aziem Rahim, 38, a mother of two, stressed that Malaysia should not wait until an outbreak to act. “Border health checks should be preventive, not reactive. Malaysia has already shown strong leadership during Covid-19 and similar vigilance now would protect children who haven’t completed their vaccination schedules and those with weaker immune systems.” She suggested that systems such as the MySejahtera app, widely used during the pandemic, could be adapted for health declarations by incoming travellers. “It’s not about being extreme – it’s about being practical. Visitors should declare their vaccination status. If they are unvaccinated against certain diseases of concern, then restrictions may be justified.” Another parent who only wanted to be known as Zubaidah, a homemaker and mother of five, echoed the sentiment but admitted to mixed feelings. “Checks at the border are important, yes, but I also worry whether our hospitals could cope if a serious outbreak did occur. “Doctors and nurses are already o Decision triggers calls for stricter health screening and proof of immunisation involving foreign visitors to safeguard against disease resurgence Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Experts stress that border checks for foreigners should be seen as part of the country’s wider defence to protect the health of citizens. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

with the Health Ministry maintaining strong surveillance systems and conducting supplementary immunisation campaigns, such as the ongoing nationwide measles rubella programme for children. They also said internationally, proof of vaccination for border entry is not new. Countries such as Uganda, Singapore and Tanzania still require certificates for yellow fever, while Saudi Arabia mandates meningococcal vaccination for pilgrims. The World Health Organisation also lists other diseases – including polio, cholera and Japanese encephalitis – for which vaccination is recommended before travel. Against this backdrop, parents emphasise that border health checks should be seen as part of Malaysia’s wider defence, rather than a cause for alarm. As Ainul put it: “It’s like wearing a seatbelt – you hope you never need it, but it’s better to have the protection than not.”

stretched thin.” She pointed to post-pandemic pressures such as rising flu cases and the burden of chronic illnesses, adding: “Strengthening our healthcare system should go hand in hand with border precautions.” Civil servant Adam (not his real name), 38, shared a similar perspective. While acknowledging Malaysia’s relatively robust immunisation coverage, he cautioned against complacency. “If vaccination rates continue to drop elsewhere, diseases could travel. Sometimes the imported strains may differ from what we are used to and that could complicate treatment.” He supported requiring proof of vaccination from incoming travellers, describing it as “a practical measure that reduces risks, protects vulnerable groups and avoids bigger healthcare costs later”. Public health experts have generally reassured that Malaysia is well-prepared,

‘Public health system ready for any eventuality’ PETALING JAYA: Despite concerns over a potential rise in infectious disease cases worldwide – fuelled by moves in some countries to roll back on vaccination mandates – Malaysians have no reason to panic, as the nation’s health system is well-prepared to respond. against diseases such as polio before entering public schools. Zahir said Malaysia could face some risk if exemptions of this kind become more common in high-travel countries like the US. “For example, if we look at measles, the national immunisation coverage of 95% in 2024 is high, but only 62% of districts achieved coverage above 95%. immunisation programme for measles and rubella nationwide, targeting children aged six to 59 months (4.9 years), to raise herd immunity to 95%. “A Malaysian population with stronger herd immunity will definitely be less susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases brought in from abroad,” he said.

Universiti Teknologi Mara Faculty of Medicine public health medicine specialist and lecturer Dr Zahir Izuan Azhar said even as cases of measles climb globally, Malaysia’s public health infrastructure provides strong protection. “The Health Ministry has a good surveillance system, a fast-response public health team, and well-established preparedness measures to tackle vaccine preventable disease threats,” he told theSun via WhatsApp. His comments followed news that Florida could become the first state in the US to eliminate all vaccine mandates, including requirements for children to be immunised

The Health Ministry launched the nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign on Aug 4 and it will run until Oct 12 for children born between Aug 1, 2020 and Jan 31, 2025. The move comes in response to a surge in infections and reported deaths among unvaccinated children, with measles cases nearly doubling in 2024 and vaccination rates remaining low in some areas. The ministry said the campaign is designed to boost herd immunity and support Malaysia’s target of eliminating measles by 2030. The dose is available at all government health clinics. – By IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE

“In districts where herd immunity is strong, a single imported case may cause only a small chain of infections that can be controlled. But in under-vaccinated populations, one imported case can lead to many secondary cases quickly and large outbreaks can occur within two or three weeks,” he explained. Still, Zahir stressed that Malaysia is fully equipped to handle such challenges, highlighting the ministry’s comprehensive measures and preparations against infectious diseases. He added that the ministry is currently carrying out a free supplementary

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Father mourns tragic death of son

o Nine-year-old remembered as adorable and bright, who had once told family he wanted to go to heaven

son were over breakfast that morning before school, adding that he and his wife will deeply miss their son, who never failed to ask for kisses and “salam” before bed. Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has instructed the Negeri Sembilan Education Department to immediately investigate the incident. Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad also reminded all school administrators, district offices and state departments to ensure facilities are always maintained in safe condition.

sports parade ended. Things were already chaotic and I was told a child had fallen into the pit. I searched for my children in the field but only found the younger one. Then my son’s friend said Abdul Fattah was missing from the sports tent.” A teacher later confirmed it was his son. By the time he arrived at the scene, passers-by had already pulled Abdul Fattah out and were performing CPR, Bernama reported. He said his last moments with his

school for sports and showed no unusual behaviour. He once told me he wanted to go to heaven. Children are without sin, they go straight to heaven. I am resigned to what has happened. It is God’s will, and we accept this test,” he said at the Rembau Hospital forensic unit. Recounting the tragedy, Khairol Rizal, who is also chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association at his son’s school, said no one witnessed the fall but only heard a loud crash before realising a pupil had fallen into the sewage pit. “I was only informed after the

REMBAU: A nine-year-old boy who died after falling into a sewage pit at a school in Lenggeng, Nilai, on Saturday had once told his family he wanted to go to heaven. His father Khairol Rizal Mustafar, 42, revealed that he never imagined the words of his only son, Abdul

Fattah – fondly known as Atah – would turn into reality. Describing him as adorable, active and intelligent, he shared that Abdul Fattah – the second of four siblings – had a way of winning over the elderly. “My child was so happy to go to

Family of missing soldier to visit incident site PORT DICKSON: The family of Pbt Muhammad Zulkarnain Jaffar, who has been missing since Sept 12 while on duty during Op Pasir off Pulau Mataking in Sabah, will be taken to the location of the incident. Male Recruits Series 203/2025 on Saturday. He explained that while operations were under the command of ATB 2, the army was closely monitoring developments as the missing soldier was from its ranks.

Datuk remanded over cooking oil smuggling KOTA BHARU: A man with the title “Datuk”, suspected of being involved in a smuggling syndicate that siphoned 11,050kg of subsidised cooking oil, has been remanded for three days starting today. The remand order was issued by Magistrate Rais Imran Hamid after allowing a police application to investigate the 28-year-old suspect further under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961. The man is being investigated for illegal possession of controlled goods, including subsidised cooking oil. Last Friday, Bernama reported that two enforcement officers were among eight individuals arrested on suspicion of organising‘counter setting’ activities for a syndicate that embezzled 11,050kg of subsidised cooking oil in Pasir Mas, Kelantan. Cops tracking suspects in RM100,000 theft case JOHOR BAHRU: Police are tracking down several individuals suspected of smashing the window of a car and escaping with a bag containing RM100,000 in cash in Taman Perling last Thursday. North Johor Bahru police chief ACP Balveer Singh Mahindar Singh confirmed the case, which was widely shared on Facebook and was later reported by a 34-year-old man at 1.34pm the same day. Initial investigations revealed the incident occurred at about 10am when the victim parked his car and locked the doors. Upon returning, he discovered that the driver’s side window had been smashed. The victim alleged that a bag containing RM100,000 in cash was taken from the car. The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft. – Bernama IPOH: A woman and her son were killed after the motorcycle they were riding skidded and crashed into an electricity pole along Jalan Huntly in Kampung Sungai Batu near Pantai Remis on Friday. Manjung district police chief ACP Hasbullah Abd Rahman reported that the incident occurred at about 12.45am, and the 33-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe injuries. “The victims are believed to have been travelling from Pantai Remis town towards Kampung Sungai Batu when the woman lost control of the motorcycle, skidded onto the left road shoulder and crashed into a Tenaga Nasional Berhad pole. Her 10-year-old son also sustained injuries and was rushed to a clinic, but succumbed to his wounds while receiving treatment,”he said in a statement on Saturday. The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. – Bernama Mother, son killed in motorcycle crash

assistance, while Muhammad Zulkarnain has yet to be located. Meanwhile at the parade, 1,123 male recruits completed their six-month basic training, which began on March 5. The series recorded the highest participation from Sarawak with 213 recruits, followed by Sabah with 159. Kpl Ishak Hidayat and Staff Sjn Abdul Aziz Ahmad received the Army Dagger Award for exemplary service. Both also brought pride to the nation by winning champion and runner-up titles in their categories at the Mr Asia Bodybuilding Championship. – Bernama

“Although operational control is with ATB 2, we are actively following the case and remain committed to supporting the family during this difficult time.” Earlier reports stated that two soldiers from 5th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment’s C Company went missing during Op Pasir Sector Semporna Series 3. One of them, Pbt Muhammad Irfan Haiqal Abdullah, 20, was found unconscious and later pronounced dead after receiving medical

Army Chief Jen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan confirmed that a request was made during a visit to the family. “I was informed that the next of kin, through the Joint Task Force Headquarters (ATB 2), had requested to visit the location. We respect their wishes and the request was approved. His father, stepmother and uncle will be taken to Pulau Mataking to see the place where he was on duty,” he said at the Passing Out Parade of

Lorry driver remanded over fatal toll plaza collision KUALA LUMPUR: A lorry driver involved in a fatal four-vehicle crash at the Bukit Kajang Toll Plaza yesterday has been remanded for two days to assist in police investigations. he jumped out of the vehicle due to brake problems. However, investigations are ongoing to determine whether the vehicle really had brake problems. The lorry will be sent for inspection,” he said in a statement yesterday. Wreckage of vehicles strewn at the crash site in the aftermath of the incident. – PIC COURTESY OF FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT

Naazron said the baby was in the car with his mother, grandmother and twin sibling. “All the baby’s family members have been discharged from the Serdang Hospital after receiving treatment, while the other victims travelling in the two SUVs are still receiving treatment at the Kajang Hospital and a private hospital in Kajang.” The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. – Bernama

Kajang district police chief ACP Naazron Abdul Yusof confirmed that statements have been recorded from five individuals, including the owner of the lorry company involved. “Investigations found that the lorry was last serviced in April. The driver claimed that

The incident, which occurred at about 11am, involved a lorry, a car and two sport utility vehicles (SUV), resulting in the death of a one-year-old boy and injuries to seven others.

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At least 39 dead, 51 injured in India rally stampede

Thousands evacuated as typhoon nears Vietnam HANOI: Vietnam closed airports and evacuated thousands of people yesterday as intensifying Typhoon Bualoi barrelled towards the country, days after causing at least 10 deaths and widespread flooding in the Philippines. The typhoon, which was packing wind speeds of up to 133kph, was expected to make landfall in central Vietnam yesterday, earlier than previous forecasts as it was travelling fast, according to Vietnam’s national weather forecast agency. “This is a rapidly moving storm, nearly twice the average speed, with strong intensity and a broad area of impact. It is capable of triggering multiple natural disasters simultaneously, including powerful winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, flash floods, landslides and coastal inundation,” the agency said. Authorities in the central province of Ha Tinh have started to evacuate more than 15,000 people, the government said, adding that troops were on standby. Vietnam suspended operations at four coastal airports yesterday, including Danang International Airport, and adjusted the departure time of several flights, the Civil Aviation Authority said. Heavy rain has already caused flooding in Hue and Quang Tri, the government said. With a long coastline facing the South China Sea, Vietnam is prone to typhoons that are often deadly. Last year, Typhoon Yagi killed about 300 people and caused US$3.3 billion (RM13.9 billion) of property damage. – Reuters

o Commission to probe incident

CHENNAI: At least 39 people were killed and over 50 injured on Saturday in a stampede at a rally held by actor Vijay, who is campaigning for election. “So far, 39 people have died, including 13 men, 17 women, four boys and five girls – while 51 people, including 26 men and 25 women, are receiving intensive treatment,” Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin told reporters in Karur, the district where the incident occurred. Earlier, state lawmaker Senthil Balaji told reporters that 58 people were hospitalised. A senior police official said a criminal case has been registered against the party. Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s most bankable actors of three decades, has drawn massive crowds to his public meetings since launching his political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam last year, which has targeted the state ruling party DMK and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. He is campaigning ahead of state elections that are to be held early next year. Videos show thousands of people surrounding a large campaign vehicle on top of which Vijay is seen standing and speaking. During the rally, visuals showed Vijay throwing water bottles from WASHINGTON: Vacationing in India, engineer Amrutha Tamanam rushed to return to the United States after US President Donald Trump abruptly announced a US$100,000 (RM422,148) fee for the visa she holds. As she scrambled to get back to the country she has called home for a decade, far-right trolls launched coordinated efforts to disrupt flight bookings from India, calling their campaign “clog the toilet”. The White House would later clarify that the new H-1B fee was a one-time payment not applicable to current holders. But leading US companies had already advised their employees abroad to swiftly return to avoid the fee or risk being stranded overseas. Tamanam, an Austin-based software engineer, began searching for a flight from the city of Vijayawada, as users on the far-right message board 4chan moved to overwhelm reservation systems, in a bid to block Indian visa holders from booking tickets. One 4chan thread encouraged users to find India-US flights, “initiate the checkout process” but “don’t checkout”, thereby clogging the system and preventing the visa holders from reaching the United

Relatives of the victims mourn in front of Karur Government Medical College Hospital yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

This is not the first time Vijay’s rallies have faced safety concerns. At least six deaths were reported by media following the first meeting of his political party when it was launched in October last year. Despite restrictions, including limits on convoy size and venue changes, the massive crowds have repeatedly overwhelmed local infrastructure. “The unfortunate incident at the rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, is deeply saddening,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. – Reuters

nearby districts of Tiruchirappalli and Salem were sent to Karur, media reports said. When asked about the cause of the stampede during a press briefing early yesterday, Stalin said: “Tamil Nadu has appointed a commission headed by retired judge Aruna Jagadeesan to investigate and submit a report to the government, after which further action will be taken.” He earlier announced one million rupees (RM47,618) each to the families of dead victims.

the top of the vehicle to fainting supporters and calling for police help when the crowd became uncontrollable. “My heart is broken. I am in unbearable, indescribable pain and sorrow,” Vijay wrote on X. “I express my deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of my dear brothers and sisters who lost their lives in Karur. I pray for a speedy recovery for those who are undergoing treatment in the hospital.” At least 44 doctors from the States before the announcement took effect. The campaign may have had a direct impact on Tamanam, who encountered repeated crashes on airline websites. The checkout page, which typically allows users a window of a few minutes, timed out much faster. After multiple attempts, she eventually managed to rebook a one-way ticket to Dallas on Qatar Airways, spending around US$2,000 – more than double the cost of her original round-trip fare. “It was hard for me to book a ticket and I paid a huge fare for the panic travel,”Tamanam said. The 4chan thread, which also circulated among far-right Trump supporters on Telegram and other fringe forums, read: “Indians are just waking up after the H1B news. Want to keep them in India? Clog the flight reservation system!” Responding posts, many riddled with racist slurs, advised users to hold seats for popular India-US routes on airline websites and booking platforms – without completing the purchase. The stated goal was to block availability on high-demand flights,

‘Clog the toilet’ trolls hit Indian visa holders

making it harder to find available seats and inflating prices. Illustrating the scale of the operation, one 4chan user posted a screenshot of their browser and claimed: “I got 100 seats locked.” “Currently clogging the last available seat on this Delhi to Newark flight,” another wrote. Several 4chan users also posted about holding up seats on Air India and slowing the airline’s website. However, an Air India spokesperson told AFP the site experienced no disruptions, with systems operating normally. Although difficult to measure the campaign’s overall effectiveness, the trolling was an attempt to “cause panic among H-1B visa holders”, said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. “The real scary thing about 4chan is its ability to radicalise people into extremist beliefs,” Beirich said, adding that several US mass shooters had published manifestos to the site. H-1B visas allow companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialised skills – such as scientists and computer programmers – to work in the United States, initially for three years but extendable to six.

H-1B visas allow companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialised skills to work in the United States.– REUTERSPIC

“As nationalistic politics takes hold, an informal international association of opponents will use an array of aggressive tools, including the internet,” Levin said. “What I think is so relevant is how rapidly it spread, how diverse the nations represented were, and how shared antipathy across international borders can be mobilised online.” – AFP

The United States awards 85,000 H-1B visas per year on a lottery system, with India accounting for around three-quarters of the recipients. In an age of information warfare, the troll operation illustrates how bad actors can launch disruptive attacks “with the stroke of a keyboard”, said Brian Levin, founder of the Centre for the Study of Hate and Extremism.

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Iran denounces return of UN sanctions

No talk of republic, says Australia PM SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said yesterday he did not raise the issue of Australia severing ties with Britain to become a republic in a meeting with King Charles in Scotland. Charles is head of state in Australia, New Zealand and 12 other Commonwealth realms outside the United Kingdom, although the role is largely ceremonial. Australia has long debated the need to keep a distant monarch. A 1999 referendum in Australia on becoming a republic lost with 55% of voters opposed. Albanese, a lifelong republican who nonetheless has pledged his allegiance to the monarch, said in televised remarks yesterday that he met one-on-one with Charles at Balmoral Castle, his home in the Scottish Highlands. Asked if he raised any plans to hold a referendum on Australia becoming a republic, Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corp: “No. And I think I’ve made it clear that I wanted to hold one referendum while I was prime minister, and we did that.” Australia in October 2023 decisively rejected a referendum proposal, advanced by Albanese’s ruling centre-left Labor party, to recognise indigenous people in the constitution. “We’re concentrating on cost of living and on making a real practical difference to people’s lives,” Albanese said. Charles, the only British monarch who has spent time living in Australia, visited the country in October last year, the first visit by a reigning British monarch in 13 years. Albanese’s meeting with Charles came a day after the Australian leader expressed confidence that the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal with the US and Britain would move forward, after a meeting in London with his British counterpart, Keir Starmer. – Reuters Stop navel gazing, UK Labour party told LIVERPOOL: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on his party yesterday to stop “navel gazing” and unite to defeat Reform UK, accusing the populist party of planning to launch a “racist policy” of mass deportations if it wins power. Starmer, whose governing Labour is well behind Reform in the polls, kicked off his party’s annual conference by issuing a rallying cry to party members to direct their anger towards Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage’s Reform, rather than his leadership. “I’m saying we have got the fight of our lives ahead of us, because we’ve got to take on Reform. We’ve got to beat them and so now is not the time for introspection or navel gazing. We need to be in that fight united,” he told BBC. With Starmer’s Labour badly behind in the polls before a national election due in 2029, the British prime minister wants to reset the narrative about his leadership after weeks of difficulties when he was forced to reshuffle his government. He sees his party’s conference in the northern English city of Liverpool as a chance to rally Labour and challenge those critics who want him to be replaced, including the mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, by focusing their anger on Farage. Starmer defended his government’s efforts to tackle illegal immigration, which is one of the main concerns of British voters, describing Farage’s plan to deport refugees who had settled in Britain as “racist”. “It is one thing to say we’re going to remove illegal migrants, people who have no right to be here. I’m up for that,” he said. “It is a completely different thing to say we are going to reach in to people who are lawfully here and start removing them ... I do think that it’s a racist policy, I do think it is immoral, and it needs to be called out for what it is.” – Reuters

o Channels for dialogue remain open

sanctions alongside Britain and France, had “no choice” as Iran was not complying with its obligations, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said. “For us, it is imperative: Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon,” he told the UN General Assembly. “But let me emphasise: we remain open to negotiations on a new agreement. Diplomacy can and should continue.” Russia made clear it would not enforce the sanctions, considering them invalid. The sanctions “finally exposed the West’s policy of sabotaging the pursuit of constructive solutions in the UN Security Council, as well as its desire to extract unilateral concessions from Tehran through blackmail and pressure,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. Iran has long contended that it is not seeking nuclear weapons. The sanctions are a “snapback” of measures frozen in 2015 when Iran agreed to major restrictions on its nuclear programme under a deal negotiated by former president Barack Obama. Iran recalled its envoys from Britain, France and Germany for consultations on Saturday, state television reported. – AFP

forces bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. Despite the reimposition, Western leaders stressed channels for dialogue remained open. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Iran to “accept direct talks, held in good faith”. He also called on UN member states to “immediately” implement sanctions to “pressure Iran’s leaders to do what is right for their nation, and best for the safety of the world”. The British, French and German foreign ministers said in a joint statement they would continue to seek “a new diplomatic solution to ensure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon”. They also called on Tehran “to refrain from any escalatory action”. Iran had allowed UN inspectors to return to its nuclear sites, but President Masoud Pezeshkian said the United States had offered only a short reprieve in return for handing over its whole stockpile of enriched uranium, a proposal he described as unacceptable. An 11th-hour effort by Iran allies Russia and China to postpone the sanctions until April failed to win enough votes in the Security Council on Friday, leading to the measures taking effect in Tehran yesterday. Germany, which triggered the return of

TEHRAN: Iran yesterday condemned as “unjustifiable” the reinstatement of UN sanctions over its nuclear programme, after the collapse of talks with Western powers and Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear sites. The measures, which bar dealings linked to the republic’s nuclear and ballistic missile activities, took effect overnight after Western powers triggered the so-called “snapback” mechanism under the 2015 nuclear accord. “The reactivation of annulled resolutions is legally baseless and unjustifiable ... all countries must refrain from recognising this illegal situation,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will firmly defend its national rights and interests, and any action aimed at undermining the rights and interests of its people will face a firm and appropriate response,” it said. The return of the sanctions ends months of tense diplomacy aimed at reviving nuclear talks derailed since June, when Israeli and US

World’s highest bridge opens to traffic BEIJING: The world’s highest bridge opened to traffic in China yesterday, state media said, capping an engineering feat three years in the making and snatching the record from another bridge in the same province. bridge for a ceremony to mark the occasion, several expressing their pride and excitement in live interviews to state media. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge towers 625m above a river in Guizhou province in China. – AFPPIC

The hilly province of Guizhou in particular is crisscrossed by thousands of bridges, which now include the world’s two highest. Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday that nearly half of the world’s 100 highest bridges are in the province. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge took more than three years to complete, Xinhua reported. Its 1,420m main span makes it the “world’s largest-span bridge built in a mountainous area”, it said. Apart from the world’s highest bridge, the tallest – measured in terms of the height of its own structure, rather than the distance to the ground – remains France’s Millau viaduct at 343m. – AFP

“The opening of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge reduces travel time between the two sides from two hours to two minutes,” said Zhang Yin, head of the provincial transport department. Its opening makes “enormous improvements to regional transport conditions and (injects) new impetus into regional economic and social development.” China has invested heavily in major infrastructure projects in recent decades, a period of rapid economic growth and urbanisation in the country.

The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge towers 625m above a river and vast gorge in the country’s rugged southern province of Guizhou, also home to the 565m Beipanjiang Bridge that is now the world’s second highest. Live drone footage broadcast by state media yesterday showed vehicles traversing the immense structure, its blue support towers partially engulfed in clouds. Crowds of onlookers including project engineers and local officials gathered on the

MONDAY | SEPT 29, 2025

9

Russia tells West to back off

to do so in the future. He said that only the “politically blind” would expect Ukraine to one day return to the borders it had before Russia invaded in February 2022, an indirect response to Trump’s assertion that Kyiv could retake all its occupied land from Russia. Lavrov also singled out German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, referring to what he said was “militaristic rhetoric” and said Moscow was alarmed by remarks by politicians in EU and Nato capitals of a looming World War Three as a “likely scenario”. Despite taking aim at Nato and the European Union, Lavrov made clear Moscow remained hopeful of “frank dialogue” with the United States under Trump despite the US president’s recent shifting stance. The US and Russia, he said, will hold a third round of talks in the coming months aimed at improving each other’s embassy operations, which have been severely curtailed by a decade of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and other curbs. Lavrov met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday on the sidelines of the annual

o A‘ ny aggression will be met with decisive response’

NEW YORK: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the West on Saturday that any aggression against Moscow would face a “decisive response”, warning against attempts to down aircraft in Russian airspace and accusing Germany of militaristic rhetoric. Tensions have mounted along Nato’s eastern flank in recent weeks as Estonia said Moscow sent three fighter jets into its airspace and Nato warplanes shot down Russian drones over Poland. “Any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response. There should be no doubt about this among those in Nato and the EU who ... are telling their voters that war with Russia is inevitable,” he told the UN General Assembly. The spate of airspace incursions linked to Russia has unnerved countries in eastern Europe where Russia is seen as the biggest threat since the end of the Cold War.

Hopes have dimmed of any imminent end to Moscow’s war in Ukraine. US President Donald Trump said last week that he endorsed the idea of shooting down Russian jets that violate Nato airspace, part of a rhetorical shift that saw him mock Russia’s military performance in Ukraine and call it a paper tiger. Lavrov brushed off Trump’s most recent remarks during a press conference that followed his General Assembly speech, but issued a warning about any moves against aircraft inside Russia. “If there are attempts to down any flying object, any object ... in our airspace, then I think people will very much regret undertaking such an egregious violation of our territorial integrity and sovereignty,” he said. Lavrov told the UN General Assembly that Russia had never targeted EU or Nato countries with drones or missiles, and that it had no plans

gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly. Lavrov said he did not see economic relations between Russia and India as under threat, as Trump has placed tariffs on products from India, calling on it – and China – to stop buying Russian oil. Despite his cautious tone on Trump, Lavrov voiced alarm over a US naval build-up and military action in international waters around Venezuela to combat drug cartels, describing the situation as “very serious”. – Reuters Moscow loses aviation council seat MONTREAL: Russia failed to win enough support on Saturday to get elected to the UN aviation agency’s governing council, in the latest rebuke of Moscow for actions taken after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Russia received 87 votes, just short of the 93 votes it needed to win back a seat on the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s 36 nation governing council during the agency’s assembly, which runs through Friday in Montreal. Russia in 2022 lost its spot on the first part of the council, which includes countries like China, Brazil, the United States and Australia as “states of chief importance in air transport”, following its invasion of Ukraine. A Russian representative immediately called for “a repeat round of voting”, which was not accepted by the assembly. A spokesperson for Russia’s Transport Ministry was not immediately available for comment. The ICAO sets global safety standards for civil aviation with the governing council playing a critical role in that process. In addition to the war in Ukraine, Russia faces council condemnation for disturbing signals used in navigation, the Global Navigation Satellite System and Global Positioning System, charges that Moscow denies. “They are the most aggressive abuser and violator of international agreements and international norms,”US Transport Secretary Sean Duffy told Reuters by phone earlier this week about Russia. “How could we let someone come into a world organisation that is truly making the airspace more dangerous, not more safe?” – Reuters Lavrov said Moscow remains hopeful of ‘frank dialogue’ with the United States. – REUTERSPIC

Tanks thrust deeper into Gaza City CAIRO: Israeli tanks moved deeper into Gaza City’s residential districts yesterday, as local health authorities said they have been unable to respond to dozens of desperate calls, expressing concern about the fate of residents in the targeted areas.

Witnesses and medics said Israeli tanks had deepened their incursions in the Sabra, Tel Al Hawa, Sheikh Radwan and Al-Naser neighbourhoods, closing in on the heart and the western areas of Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of people are sheltering. The Israeli military launched its long threatended ground offensive on Gaza City on Sept 16 after weeks of intensifying strikes on the urban centre, forcing hundreds of Palestinians to flee although many still remain. Hamas said yesterday it had not received a new proposal from mediators, after President Donald Trump said on Friday that “a deal on Gaza” seemed likely. Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House today. A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Israel said that Ambassador Mike Huckabee would travel to Egypt to meet Egyptian officials “as part of regular diplomatic consultations conducted between US embassies in the region”. Egypt is among those mediating between Israel and Hamas. The Civil Emergency Service in Gaza said late on Saturday that Israel had denied 73 requests, sent via international organisations, to rescue injured Palestinians in Gaza City. Israeli authorities had no immediate comment. The military earlier said forces were BERLIN: Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of the German capital on Saturday to demand that Israel halt its military campaign. Large crowds waved Palestinian flags and banners reading “Free Palestine” and “Food and water are human rights” as they marched from Berlin’s town hall. “Today we can send a signal that the majority, who are against Israel’s policies and against this genocide, are visible on the streets and can take action,” said Dustin Hirschfeld, who took part in the “Together for Gaza” demonstration. The protesters finished their march at Berlin’s Victory Column monument, the site of a rally and concert.

A mobile artillery unit fires towards Gaza yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

Israel’s military siege has caused a humanitarian catastrophe across Gaza. Four health facilities in Gaza City have shut down this month, the World Health Organisation has said. Some malnutrition centres have also closed, the UN says. The World Food Programme estimates that between 350,000 and 400,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City since last month. The Israeli military estimates that around a million Palestinians were in Gaza City in August. – Reuters

expanding operations in the city and that five men firing an anti-tank missile towards Israeli troops had been killed by the Israeli air force. Over the past 24 hours, the air force had struck 140 military targets across Gaza, including what it described as military infrastructure, the military said. At least five people were killed in an airstrike in Gaza’s Al Naser area, local health authorities said. Medics reported 16 more deaths in strikes on houses in central Gaza, bringing yesterday’s death toll to at least 21. Police estimated some 60,000 people took part in both the march and the rally, which was organised by Die Linke political party and civil society groups. Organisers put the figure at around 100,000. About 1,800 police were deployed to monitor the protests. Die Linke party has accused the German government of staying largely silent as the humanitarian situation worsens in Gaza. The government “must finally take action and increase pressure on the Israeli government to force it to change course,” the party urged. By sunset, the event had been peaceful. – AFP

Huge Berlin protest urges end to offensive

Demonstrators switch on phone flashlights during the ‘All eyes on Gaza’ rally in Berlin. – REUTERSPIC